"Lakshmi Speaks to Shakra "

 We have seen how Bhagavan Sri Krishna talks to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita. We also have the Varaha Deva and Agastya Muni dialogue. And, now, here we have the dialogue of Lakshmi and Shakra (Indra). Thanks to Professor Sanjukta Gupta, Ed. 'Lakshmi Tantra', we have the translation of some Samskruta Text with Notes of Pancharatra Agama Shastra with special reference to 'Mantra Shastra' (Vaishnava Shakta) in 'Lakshmi Tantra', pub.: MLBD 2000 (First published Netherlands1972). Here, Devi Lakshmi presents Herself as 'Samrajni, the Sovereign Authority, albeit, exercising the Powers of Lord Sri Hari Narayana. She answers all the questions of Shakra (Indra).with regard to Creation, sustenance, dissolution, and merger in its entirety! There is no secret left about the 'true nature of our existence' after reading this, 

  Here, we bring out only the Introductory aspects of the 'Jiva' and the means of its 'Salvation'. It is explicitly stated that that "Lakshmi Tantra concerns itself with the individual adept, who desires to be released from the miseries of worldly existence".  First, let us know who this Jiva is and why the worldly existence is one of miseries and the jiva seeks liberation, and then know what the means of its salvation are.

 'Jiva' is defined here as the 'animate being' and it is "the 'self-imposed limited state of the absolute consciousness which is God's essence" The limitations start with the five sheaths, kosha that envelope the jiva. In fact, the 'jiva' is also 'Shakti' that creates the cosmos and does all the activities of the latter such as creation, sustenance, like a mirror reflects the mountain! Cognition of objects of the jiva is its creative function. Attachment to material objects is its function of sustenance and satiation by these objects is its destructive function.. The desire for material objects is its function of delusion, and its detachment from  that desire is  is its function of divine grace 

  There are three types of jivas. The first one is those who are fettred to worldly existence. Second type is the  one that is liberated from that bondage. The third category is that which is always free!. Jiva's liberation always depends on Shakti's compassion which persuades her to bestow her divine grace on the initiate (shaktipata). Liberation or mukti of the jiva has a much deeper meaning than what we normally think of. This will be considered in greater details in the next blog.

(To be contd.)